Cattle feed trough treating apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for treating and cleansing a feed trough having a longitudinally extending upwardly open channel of round, curved or rectangular section by the concurrent steps of supporting a cylindrical brush means having a central longitudinally extending axis in the trough channel; rotating the brush about its axis and thereby contacting and brushing said trough channel and thereby applying a force between the trough channel and rotating brush while supporting the rotating brush in the channel against that force between the rotating brush and the trough channel; and moving the brush along the length of the trough with the axis of the brush at an angle to the length of the trough channel, the brush contacting the bottom and horizontally spaced-apart vertically extending wall portions of the trough channel, in alternating combination with the step of stirring the feed in said trough by concurrent steps of supporting in said trough, pivotally about a horizontal axis above said trough, plowlike stirring means extending transversely of the length of said channel of said trough and moving said stirring means along the length of the trough through the feed in said trough. The apparatus for supporting and locating and moving the brush along the length of the trough is the same as the apparatus for supporting, locating and moving the stirring means.

United States Patent Hodges 51 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] CATTLE FEED TROUGH TREATING APPARATUS AND METHOD [72] lnventor: Roy Kenneth Hodges, Stratford, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Kenneth Poole, Cactus, Tex. a part interest [22] Filed: Sept. 19, 1969 [211 App]. No.: 859,393

[52] U.S.Cl.... ..l5/56, 15/4, 15/21 E [51] Int. Cl. ..A46b 13/02 [58] Field of Search ..l5/D1G. 2, DlG. 4, 21 R, 21 E,

15/49 C, 50 C, 53, 97 R, 98,56, 340; 51/180 3,532,070 10/1970 Lamarque ..l5/21EX Primary ExaminerEdward L. Roberts Att0meyEly Silverman [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for treating and cleansing a feed trough having a longitudinally extending upwardly open channel of round, curved or rectangular section by the concurrent steps of supporting a cylindrical brush means having a central longitu dinally extending axis in the trough channel; rotating the brush about its axis and thereby contacting and brushing said trough channel and thereby applying a force between the trough channel and rotating brush while supporting the rotating brush in the channel against that force between the rotating brush and the trough channel; and moving the brush along the length of the trough with the axis of the brush at an angle to the length of the trough channel, the brush contacting the bottom and horizontally spaced-apart vertically extending wall portions of the trough channel, in alternating combination with the step of stirring the feed in said trough by concurrent steps of supporting in said trough, pivotally about a horizontal axis above said trough, plowlike stirring means extending transversely of the length of said channel of said trough and moving said stirring means along the length of the trough through the feed in said trough. The apparatus for supporting and locating and moving the brush along the length of the trough is the same as the apparatus for supporting, locating and moving the stirring means.

7 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 or 4 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. ROY KENNETH HODGES ATTORNEY PAWWHEW W SHEET 2 [1F 4 172 n3 INVENTOR.

OY KENNETH HODGES ATTORNEY PATEWEFEB 22 m2 w 2 SHEET 3 [IF 4 INVENTOR.

ROY KENNETH HODGES ATTORNEY PAIENTEDFEBZE rem 3.6439274 snzmum F/G. 7A

INVENTOR.

ROY KENNETH HO'DGES ATTORNEY CATTLE FEED TROUGI-I TREATING APPARATUS AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The field of invention to which this invention pertains is brushing, scrubbing and general cleaning and, more particularly, a cleaning machine whose cleaning instrument is of the brush or broom type.

2. Prior Art The prior art has recognized for many years that feed in troughs spoils and such spoiled feed is detrimental to animals and the economics of large scale animal feeding; nevertheless, while hand operation for removal of residue is expensive and slow for troughs of rectangular section and mechanical augers harm concrete troughs and are incomplete in their action even on curved troughs of rounded transverse cross section, the problem of residue removal has been with the animal feedlot industry notwithstanding such passage of time and the growth and development in other aspects of the industry.

SUMMARY While the force developed between a concrete trough surface and a rotating cylindrical brush therein which brush rotates about its central longitudinal axis, and which axis extends along the length of the trough, urges a rotating brush out of the trough, by providing structure that resists such urging and maintains the front end and rear end of the rotating brush in a predetermined location relative to the sidewalls and bottom walls of the trough a cylindrical brush effectively presents oval and/or straight edged outline and scrubbing action on the discharges residue from straight walled and noncircularly curved as well as circularly rounded trough channels. Support, location and adjustment structure for such brush is provided and used to support an assembly that breaks up and mixes the contents of a feed trough and so prevents its caking and improves the removability of the residue from such trough channel by the brushing action.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective pictorial view, as seen from its rear, along direction of arrow 1A of FIG. 3, of an embodiment of this invention, 11, with the brush thereof in its operative position in a feed trough then being treated thereby, that trough being shown broken away at its sides and bottom to show the rear portion of the brush assembly therein. Assembly 69 is diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective pictorial view of the apparatus of this invention as seen from the front thereof, along direction of arrow 2A of FIG. 3, the apparatus being in the same position as in FIGS. 1 and 98 with the brush being in its operative position in the trough l6, and the sides and bottom of the trough being broken away to show the front portion of the brush therein.

FIG. 3 is a perspective pictorial side view of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 showing that apparatus as seen along the direction of the arrow 3A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective pictorial side view of the apparatus 11. taken in the direction of the arrow 4A of FIG. 2 with the trough l6 entirely removed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective pictorial side view of the apparatus 11 with the brush support frame assembly supported on the auxiliary frame assembly and the aerator assembly in its operative position; this view is taken generally in the same direction as FIG. 4, i.e., in the direction of the arrow 5A of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a front pictorial perspective view of the apparatus 11 taken along the direction of the arrow 6A of FIG. 5, apparatus 11 being in the same orientation of parts as shown in FIG. 5 and apparatus 11 and trough 16 being in same relation as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7A is a diagrammatic top view of the apparatus 11 operating on a round trough in combination with a tractor in the same position of parts shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5.

FIGS. 7B and 7C are diagrammatic top views of the apparatus 11 of this invention in combination with a tractor during treatment of a square sectional trough with the brush 40 being moved along the length of the trough with the axis of the brush at an angle to the length of the trough.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the apparatus 11 of FIGS. 1 through 5 and shows apparatus 11 in a side elevational view with the brush 40 broken away in part, to show relations of various parts of assembly 11 when the central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical brush 40 is at an angle to the plane of travel of the trailer assembly 12.

FIG. 9A is a diagrammatic front view of the apparatus 11 taken generally along the direction of the arrow 9A of FIG. 7 to show the relations of the assemblies 12, 13, 14 and 16 when the plane of travel of the bottom of the wheels of the trailer as sembly 12 is vertically displaced below the plane of travel of the bottom of the cylindrical brush 40 and the bottom interior surface of a round bottom trough 168.

FIG. 9B is a diagrammatic front view of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and is taken generally along the same direction as FIG. 9A to show the relations of the assemblies 12, 13, 15 and 16 when the plane of travel of the bottom of the wheels of the trailer assembly 12 is vertically displaced above the plane of travel of the agitator blade assembly 59 and the bottom interior surface of a round bottomed trough 16B.

Except for the diagrammatic showing of the cable adjusting ratchet assembly 69 (of frame adjustment assembly 30) in FIGS. 1 and 2 and 3, (and FIG. 3 is broken away in part to better show the relations of components of assembly 69, FIGS. 1 through 6 are pictorial representations; the major structural portions thereof are thus drawn to scale as seen by an observer and, while specific dimensions are provided in Table l herebelow gross dimensions can be approximated and scaled from any of FIGS. 1 through 6.

The terms left and right" forward and rearward" hroizontal" and vertical" refer to the directions as seen by an operator of the apparatus 11 in the normal forward movement thereof, the normal forward movement is from left to right in FIGS. 4, 5, 7A and 78, left" and right" are as shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The embodiment 11 of the invention is a mobile wheeled assembly. It comprises a wheeled trailer base assembly 12, on the vertical frame of which base is supported a relatively rigid auxiliary frame, 13; the auxiliary frame, 13, pivotally supports both a brush support or frame assembly, 14, and an aerator assembly 15; either the brush support frame 14 or aerator assembly 15 is supported with the brush portion 40 of assembly 14 or blade assembly 59, of assembly in a feeder trough 16. A tractor 17 is operatively connected] to the trailer assembly 12 to move it and a power train assembly 18. Tractor 17 provides power through components of a power train assembly 18 on the trailer assembly 12 and on the auxiliary frame 13 to the brush support frame 14 whereby a component, brush 40, of that assembly operates on the contents of a trough, as 16, as controlled by the operator 19, on and of the tractor 17.

The trailer base assembly 12 comprises a rigid sturdy rectangular base 21, it has straight edges at its right-side edge 21A, left-side edge 21B, rear edge 21C and front edge 21D. The base 21 is formed of sturdy angle irons; the base upper surface is generally flat imperforate and horizontal: the base 21 is movably supported on a running gear 22 and supports a rigid vertical extending frame 23. The running gear 22 is comprised of ground contacting wheels 24A and 248 each rotatably yet firmly connected to the bottom of the frame 21. The wheels 24A and 24B are each rotatably attached to an axle, 24C, which is firmly supported at either side of the frame by a spring, as 24D. The axle 24C runs transversely of the length of the base frame 21 and is located substantially at the center of the length of the base 21.

The vertical frame unit 23 comprises a front vertically extending rigid support pipe 26, and a like rear vertically exte nding support pipe 27, each provided with diagonal buttressing members, as 26A, 26B and 26C for member 26 and members 27A, 27B and 27C for member 27. The support assemblies 26 and 27 are rigid and firmly attached to the base 21 and are located with their tops and their centerlines and their bottom portions in a straight line that is parallel to the straight and parallel sides 21A and 21B of the base 21 and which straight line is slightly offset to the left side, (as shown in FIG. 1) of the center of the frame 21. A straight sturdy tube, drawbar 28, is located at the front of the base frame 21 and is firmly attached to edge 21D thereof; the bar 28 extends parallel to and along an extension of the centerline of the frame 21 and is firmly attached to both front and rear ends thereof and is firmly attached to the front end, also, through other structural members within the frame 21, to the side members of the base frame 21. The drawbar 28 is also firmly attached to diagonal trussing members 28A and 288; these trussing members are each joined at their front to the drawbar 28 and at their rear to the front edge 21D of the base frame 21. A clevis or yoke 29 is firmly attached to the front end of the drawbar 28 and is used for attachment thereof to the rear hitch of the tractor 17. A portion, 25, the base drive unit, of the power transmission assembly 18 is also firmly supported, rotatably in part on the base frame 21.

The front vertical support 26 has at the top thereof and firmly fixed thereto a horizontal (in position of parts shown in FIG. 3) rigid journal plate 71. There is a laterally extending slot through that plate 71 near the front end of the plate 71 and a similar sized parallel laterally extending slot near the rear end of the plate 71. A front central base journal 72 is adjustably yet firmly held to plate 71 by a pair of bolts in the rear slot and a front peripheral base journal 73 is adjustably yet firmly held to plate 71 by a pair of bolts in the front slot to plate 71.

The rear vertical support 27 has, firmly fixed thereon, at its top a horizontal (in position of parts shown in FIG. 3) rigid journal plate 74, there is a laterally extending slot through plate 74 near the rear end of the plate 74 and a similarly sized parallel laterally extending slot near the rear end of the plate 74. A rear central base journal 75 is adjustably yet firmly held to plate 74 by a pair of bolts in the front slot and a rear peripheral base journal 76 is adjustably yet firmly held to plate 74 by a pair of bolts in the rear slot thereof. The location of the journals 72, 73, 75 and 76 is thus adjustable from side to side relative to the centerline of the assembly 12 while also arrayed to be held firmly in desired position. The slots in plates 71 and 74 allow some rotation about a vertical axis as well as side-to-side adjustment.

The auxiliary frame assembly 13 comprises a front beam 31, a rear beam 32, a central beam 33 and a lateral beam 34, and an auxiliary frame adjustment assembly 30. The beams 31 through 34 are straight rigid box beams and are firmly joined at their ends. The beams 31 through 34 form a hollow box, each of the comers of which box is dimensionally stable to prevent distortion from the right-angle relationship at the corners where such beams meet although the beams and the box do twist in response to torque applied thereto. A portion of the power transmission assembly, auxiliary frame drive unit 35, is supported rotatably yet in substantially fixed operative relationship to the beams 31 and 32. The front beam 31 is provided with a from base pivot journal 37 firmly attached to the bottom of the front beam 31 where that front beam is located over the plate 74 on front vertical support 26. The rear beam 32 has, at the bottom thereof, a similar rear base pivot journal 38.

The front central pivot journal 37 is located between the front base journals 72 and 73 and is coaxial with the shaft 135 of assembly 35. The rear central pivot journal 38 is located between the rear base journals 75 and 76 and is coaxial therewith; the shaft 135 of the auxiliary frame drive unit assembly 35 has a firm though rotatable fit in and passes through the journals 37, 38, 72, 73, 75 and 76 and is cylindrical and provides for rotatable support of the auxiliary frame 13 on top of frame 23 and position control by auxiliary frame adjustment assembly 30.

Front, rear and intermediate lateral journals 39A, 39B and 39C, respectively, are firmly attached to the upper side of frame member 34 at its front, rear and middle and are located in a straight line along the top edge of member 34 near its outer or lateral edge. Journals 39A and 39B are located respectively at the lateral end of members 31 and 32 and 39C is at the middle of member 33; these are used to pivotally support the brush support frame assembly 14 as below described. Shaft 145 of a brush drive unit component 45 of the power transmission assembly 18 is pivotally supported on the pivots in journals 39A, 39B and 39C.

The auxiliary frame adjustment assembly 30 is located between the left lateral edge of assembly 13 and the left lateral edge of assembly 12 and serves to control the vertical relations of assemblies 15 or 14 relative to assembly 12.

The auxiliary frame adjustment assembly 30 comprises, in operative combination, an upper hook 66, a cable 67, a lower hook 68 and a cable adjusting ratchet assembly 69. The ratchet assembly 69 is a conventional cable tightening assembly. The ratchet assembly 69 comprises a rigid frame 77 and a locking pawl thereon, a cable reel 78, a locking pawl 85, a ratchet handle 87 pivotally attached to the frame 77 and an actuating pawl attached to the ratchet handle 87. The ratchet wheel and the cable reel are both firmly attached to an axle therefor and that axle 79 is rotatably attached to the frame 77.

The hook 66 is firmly fixed tan eye or hole in beam 33; the cable 67 is substantially nonstretching sturdy wire cable and is firmly attached to the bottom of the hook 66. The bottom of cable 67 is attached to the reel 78 of the ratched assembly 69. The bottom of the frame 77 of ratchet assembly 69 is firmly attached to a bottom hook 68 and hook 68 is firmly attached to an eye or hole in the edge 21B of frame 21 of assembly 12.

Locking pawl of assembly 69 is pivotally fixed to the frame and operably contacts the teeth of the ratchet wheel 86; handle 87 is pivotally attached to the frame 77 and pivotally connected to an actuating pawl thereon; that pawl operatively contacts the ratchet wheel 86 to permit that, on movement of the crank or handle 87, with locking pawl in the locking position, the cable 67 will be wound on the reel and beam 33 drawn downwards toward base frame 21 and, concomitantly, member 34 of frame assembly 13 raised; with the locking pawl in release position the beam 33 is released on movement of the crank and moves upward and the member 34 concomitantly moves downwards. The locking pawl 85 is slidable and pivotally yet permanently fixed on the frame 77 and is a U- shaped slot therefor, whereby that pawl has two positions, one for tightening cable 67, the other for loosening it on operation of the crank 87. Other conventional mechanical tightening means for the cable may be substituted for assembly 69, e.g., by a two-way hydraulically actuated piston, with the hydraulic power therefor provided by the power takeoff of the tractor.

The trough 16A is composed of a connected series of like elements as 60 and 60A. When the trough is square on transverse cross section as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,943,601, and shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings hereto, each such section is composed of a bottom or floor portion 61, a vertical outer (right as shown in FIG. 1) wall 63, an inner (or left as shown in FIG. 1) wall 62, all joined to form a unitary structure and form a trough channel 64.

These sections are generally, measured at the outside, 30 inch overall height and 30 inch overall width, approximately.

The brush 40 of the assembly 14, fits into the trough 64 formed between the walls 61, 62 and 63 and, as below described serves to remove substantially all feed residue therefrom.

The bottom of the trough, as shown at 16B (in FIGS. 9A and 9B) may be uniformly curved or rounded as in U.S. Pat. No. 1,187,783 and the brush 40 fits therein and serves to remove substantially all feed residue therefrom. The brush control system also serves to remove substantially all feed residue from a trough wherein the bottom is partly rounded and is also provided with straight walls (as in US. Pat. No. 2,468,571).

The brush support frame assembly 14 comprises, in operative connection, brush support frame 149, a brush 40, and brush position control subassernbly 46.

The brush support frame 149 comprises a front vertical rigid pipe, brush frame member 41, a rear vertical rigid pipe, brush frame member 42, a longitudinal brush support frame member 43 and an imperforate sturdy metal shield 44, below described shown as in FIGS. 1-4. The longitudinal member 43 is a rigid pipe and is firmly joined at its front end to front vertical member 41 and at its rear end to the rear vertical member 42, and diagonal truss members 43A and 43B are provided therebetween as shown in FIG. 4, to provide rigidity across those connections. The front vertical member 41 of the brush assembly is firmly connected at its top with a hanger journal 81 and the rear vertical member 42 is firmly connected at its top with a rear hanger journal 82. These hanger journals are coaxial with each other and with the shaft 145 of assembly 45 and with journals 39A, 39B and 39C. The shaft 145 is supported rotatably yet firmly in journals 39A, 39B and 39C and extends rearwardly of hanger 39B and forward of journal 39A. Hanger journals 81 and 82 are rotatably yet firmly supported on the frontward and rearward projection of shaft 145 beyond the journals 39A and 398 respectively.

Brush 40 comprises a rigid wooden cylindrical broom drum 151 with a cylindrical mass of resilient bristle firmly supported therein and radially projecting therefrom. The broom drum is firmly mounted on and firmly connected to an axle 153 coaxial therewith. The axle is rotatably located at its front end in a journal 154 at the bottom of member 41. The rear end of axle 153 is rotatably seated in a journal 155 at bottom of member 42, and, in front of that journal 155, the axle firmly attaches to a sprocket wheel 144 coaxial therewith.

The shield 44 is an imperforate cylindrically uniformly curved rigid steel plate. At its right end it is firmly fixed to and supported on member 43, it extends leftwards over the brush 40 and from the rear of member 41 to the front of member 42 and has straight front, rear, right and left edges. It supports a flexible longitudinally extending skirt 84. At its left edge the skirt contacts the upper edge of the trough treated by the brush 40 and forms a seal over the brush 411 and protects the operator from debris, dirt and dust, otherwise projected by the brush from the trough towards the operator. The shield and skirt are spaced away from the brush 40 slightly.

The brush position control subassernbly 46 comprises a rear vertical control unit 47, rear lateral control unit 48, and front lateral control unit 49 below described as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. Rear vertical control unit 47 comprises, in series, a rigid frame member 157 attached to a yoke 158 and a wheel 159. The frame member 157 is a bent rigid member having a front vertical portion which is firmly yet adjustably attached, as by a nut and bolt, to the rear vertical frame member 42 at a vertical slot therein. The bottom of the member 158 is firmly joined to a vertically extending yoke which is spaced to the rear of the member 42. The yoke rotatably supports in the arms thereof, near to the ends of its arms, the axle of a wheel 159; that wheel travels in the trough 16 along the bottom of the interior surface thereof and continuously supports the axle 153 of the brush 40 in a predetermined yet adjustable spatial relation to the bottom surface of the trough (as 16A or 1613) in which the brush 40 travels.

The rear lateral control unit comprises a central bracket 161, left and right telescoping arms 162 and 165, yokes 163 and 166, and wheels 164 and 167. The central bracket 161 is a rigid sleeve extending horizontally and transversely to the length of member 43. Bracket sleeve 161 has a base 160 at its forward end that is rigidly attached to the frame member 157. The sleeve is provided with threaded holes for seating lock nuts for locating arms 162 and 165 relative thereto.

A left, rigid, generally horizontal adjustably telescoping hollow cylindrical arm or sleeve 162 is adjustably yet firmly located in bracket 161 and extends to the left (as shown in FIG. 1) an adjustable distance and is held, as by a locknut therein, in position in the bracket 161. A rigid yoke 163 is fixedly held to the left end of arm 162 and the arms of that yoke firmly yet rotatably holds the axle of a wheel 164; the wheel 164 is thus held for rotation at a fixed yet adjustable distance to the left of the axle 153 of the brush 40..

A right rigid, generally horizontal, adjustably telescoping arm or sleeve 165 is adjustably yet finnly located in arm 162 and extends to the right (as shown in FIG. 1) an adjustable distance and is held, as by a locknut, in sleeve 161, in position in the bracket 161. A yoke 166 is fixedly held to the right end of arm 162 and the arm thereof firmly yet rotatably holds the axle of a wheel 167; the wheel 167 is thus held for rotation at a fixedly yet adjustable distance to the right from the axle 153 of the brush 40 and contacts the interior of the trough (as 16A or 168) in which the brush 40 operates.

The front lateral control unit 49 comprises a front fixed bracket baseplate 170, an adjustable bracket plate 171, a front bracket sleeve 175, a front bracket arm 172, a front yoke 173 and a front wheel 174.

Plate 170 is a rigid flat vertical circular plate with a central forwardly projecting cylindrical stud and a plurality of equispaced boltholes passing through that plate and arrayed with their centers radially symmetrical around the center of that cylindrical stud, the rear of the center of plate 170 is firmly fixed to the cent of the front end of arm 41 near to the bottom thereof and slightly above the journal 154. The centerlines of the boltholes in plate 170 are 15 apart.

Plate 171 is a flat rigid vertical circular plate with a central hole in which the cylindrical center stud of plate 170 rotatably fits. Plate 171 also has a plurality of equispaced bolt slots 177 passing through plate 171 and arrayed radially symmetrical around that central hole thereof and at the same radial distance from the center of that central hole thereof as are the centers of the boltholes in plate 170.

Each of the slots as 177 are circular and extend for a circular arc of 15 with the center of the circular are forming the circular centerline of each such slot being at the center of the central hole in plate 171 (into which central hole the cylindrical stud of plate fits when those plates are in their operative position as shown in FIG. 2). The plate 171 is held to plate 170 by a plurality of bolts, 178, each located in a bolt hole in plate 170 and in a slot in plate 171, firmly yet adjustably, as shown in FIG. 2.

The centerline of the slots in plate 1.71 each extend for an arc of 15 and there is a 15 are between adjacent slots. Plate 171 may accordingly, be rotated about a horizontal axis parallel to member 43 and passing through the center of the stud in the center of plate 170.

By rotational adjustment of plate 171 on plate 170 and tightening of bolts as 178 when plate 171 is thus adjustably located, plate 171 is fixed in position with respect to arm 41.

Front bracket sleeve is a rigid hollow cylindrical metal tube and is firmly fixed at its rear to plate 171.

The rigid, generally diagonally and adjustably telescoping arm 172 is adjustably yet firmly located in sleeve 175 and extends to the outward and downward (as shown in FIG. 1) an adjustable distance and is held, by a locknut on bracket sleeve 175, in position corresponding to its desired length in the sleeve 175. A rigid yoke 173 is fixedly held to the right lower end of arm 172 and firmly yet rotatably holds the axle of a wheel 174; the wheel 174 is thus held for rotation at a fixed yet adjustable distance below and to the right of the axle 153 of the brush 40.

The power train assembly 18 comprises, in operative combination, a base drive unit 25 on the: base 21, the auxiliary frame drive unit 35 on the auxiliary frame unit 13, and the brush drive unit 45 on the brush support frame 40 and power take ofunit 110.

The power takeoff unit 110 comprises, in operative series connection and combination, the power takeoff drive 111 of the tractor 17, a splined swivel joint 112, a straight rigid drive shaft 113, a swiveljoint 114. Thejoint 114 is operatively connected to the front end of shaft 125. Splined swivel joint 112 comprises an elongated sleeve and a swivel joint at the front end thereof, the elongated sleeve having a key which slidably and smoothly fits into a longitudinally extending slot in the shaft 113.

The base drive unit 25 comprises a front base journal support 121, a rear base journal support 122, a front base journal 123 and a rear base journal 124, a base shaft 125, a rear base shaft sprocket 126, a base unit driven chain 127, a base belt tightener 128. The front support 121 is a rigid vertical shaft firmly fixed at its bottom to base 21 along the central axis of the assembly 12 and extending vertically upwardly in a vertical plane through which plane the axis of the drawbar shaft 28 and the axis of drive shaft 113 extends. A rigid pipe, rear base journal support 122, is also firmly fixed to the base 21 and extends vertically in the vertical plane in which the axis of shaft 113, the drawbar 28 and the center of support 121 lie. A journal 123 is firmly located at the top of front base support 121 and a rear base journal 124 is firmly supported at the top of the rear support 122. A rigid cylindrical shaft 125 passes through the journals 123 and 124, those journals and shaft 125 being coaxial with each other. A sprocket 126, with 32 teeth, is firmly fixed to the rear end of the shaft 125 immediately rearward of the support therefor in the journal 124. A base unit drive chain 127 is wound around the bottom portion of the sprocket 126 and extends to, and is wound around and operatively connected to the sprocket 131. A tightener 128 is supported on the vertical support 27 to adjustably bear against the slack portion 129 of the chain 27 (left side as shown in FIG. 1).

The auxiliary frame drive unit 35 comprises a rear auxiliary driven sprocket 131, a front auxiliary drive sprocket 132, an auxiliary drive shaft 135 and a front auxiliary drive chain 134. The rear sprocket 131 is firmly fixed to the rigid cylindrical shaft 135 and the front rigid sprocket 132 with 24 teeth is firmly fixed on to the front end of the shaft 135 immediately forward of the support therefor. The shaft 135 is a rigid cylindrical shaft and rotatably supports the journals 37 and 38 and is rotatably supported in journals 72, 73, 75 and 76 on the front and rear vertical supports 26 and 27 respectively. Thereby the auxiliary frame 13 is rotatably supported on top of the frame unit 23 about an axis (the axis of shaft 135) passing through the axes of journals 37, 38, 72, 73, 75 and 76. The sprocket 131 turns in response to the motion of the sprocket wheel 126.

The brush drive unit 45 of the power chain assembly comprises, in operative combination, a rear top sprocket 141 of 24 teeth, a front top sprocket 142, of 32 teeth, a rear bottom sprocket 144, of 24 teeth, a chain 143 and a shaft 145. The shaft 145 is a cylindrical shaft which is firmly joined to sprockets 141 and 142 and is rotatably supported in the journals 39A and 39B and 39C on frame 13. The sprockets 142 and 141 are, respectively, located to the front of element 81 (which is forward of 39A) and to the rear of journal 39B (and forward of hanger element 82) as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Sprocket wheel 142 accordingly is driven by wheel 132 and drives sprocket wheel 141, and the chain 143 is driven by sprocket wheel 141 and drives sprocket wheel 144 to rotate the brush drum 151 and its bristles 152 in a clockwise (as seen from rear, as in FIG. 1) direction when assembly 18 is operatmg.

The aerator assembly comprises a hanger assembly 51, a frame assembly 55, and an agitator blade assembly 59 in operative combination. The below description refers to the operative position of that assembly shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 9B.

The hanger assembly comprises a vertical front bar 52 and a vertical rear bar 53 spaced apart from each other along the length of beam 34 and each attached, at their top, to the rigid lateral beam member 34 of the auxiliary frame assembly 13. A straight rigid cylindrical pivot bar 54 is firmly attached at its front end to the bottom of the front hanger bar 52 and its rear end to the bottom of the rear hanger bar 53; the frame assembly 55 is pivotally supported on bar 54 between bar 53 and 52.

The frame assembly 55 comprises a frame sleeve 56, a leg 57 and a leg support 58. The sleeve 56 is a hollow cylindrical rigid member which pivotally fits on the bar 54 between the hanger members 52 and 53. A rigid angle iron forms leg 57 which is a vertically extending leg (in the position of FIGS. 5, 6 and 9B) and is rigidly fixed at its top to the sleeve 56. A leg support 58 is a rigid member such as an angle iron which at its bottom is firmly attached to about the middle of the leg 57 and at its top the member 58 is attached to the bottom, near to the front end of the sleeve 56 generally as shown in FIG. 5.

The agitator blade assembly 59 is firmly supported at the bottom of the leg 57 and is firmly attached thereto. The assembly 59 comprises a right blade face 91, a left blade face 92, lower left and right wings 93 and 94, and upper left and right wings 95 and 96, a bottom foot 98 and a brace 99. The faces 91 and 92 form a conventional plow with the rigid steel faces 91 and 92 generally trapezoid in shape with, in position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a horizontal bottom edge and sides that are concave outwards and forward and slope downward and forward and out ward. Plates 91 and 92 are firmly joined to each other at a concave front edge 97 sloped forwardly and downwardly and shaped as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Wings 93, 94, 95 and 96 are, for use in square troughs as in FIG. 6, rigid straight bars about three-quarter inch in diameter and l 1 inches long. A rigid right wingbar 93 extends laterally and rearwardly from the rear bottom right edge of the plate 91 and a corresponding equal sized agitator bar 94 extends laterally and rearwardly from the lower lateral left edge of plate 92; an upper right wing bar 95 extends horizontally rightwards and rearwards from the upper lateral edge on top of right plate 91 and an upper agitator bar extends horizontally leftwards and rearwards from the upper lateral edge of the plate 92. A rigid flat steel strap forms the bottom foot 98, this strap isjoined at its front to the bottom of front edge 97 at the juncture of plates 91 and 92 and projects downwardly and rearwardly therefrom in the vertical position of assembly 59 as shown in FIG. 5. The front end of a rigid sturdy steel stub shaft 99 firmly joins to the interior portions of the faces 91 and 92 and its rear end joins to the bottom of the leg 57; thereby the leg 57 is firmly operatively connected to the supported by the blade assembly 59.

The assembly 15 has two positions in apparatus 11. In one, aerating, position, shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 9B the frame assembly is vertical and the blade assembly as 59 (or 598) is located within a mass of feed in the trough as 16A, 16B or 16C and the brush assembly 14 is supported, relatively horizontally, on top of the auxiliary frame assembly 13, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 9B.

In aerating operation of apparatus 11 the tractor 17 with assembly 15 in aerating position, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 9B draws assembly 12 in a path 20 along the length of shaft 28 parallel to the length or axis 102 of the trough 16A. The auxiliary frame adjustment assembly 30 is used to adjust the height of the beam 34 and blade assembly 59 supported thereon relative to the bottom of the trough 16 (or 16A). The operator 19 maintains the path of the tractor spaced from the center of the trough so that the front edge 97 of the assembly 59 is at the center of mass of any residue of feed in the trough being treated, usually the horizontal distance from the center of the trough to the central longitudinal axis of the shaft 125 is the same as the horizontal distance from the center and front edge 97 of the blade assembly 59 to the central longitudinal axis of the shaft 125. In this position the assembly 59 provides for movement of the wings or bars 93 and 94 thereof along the flat-bottomed trough 16A with the bottom of bars 93 and 94 spaced slightly, but definitely about 1 inch from the bottom of the trough, and the outer ends of the wings at about I inch from the sidewalls of the trough and clearly not touching such sidewalls; the upper wings 95 and 96 extend to within 2 inches, and usually and preferably about 1 inch of the interior sidewalls of the trough, but do not touch such sidewalls during the travel of the blade assembly along the length of the trough; foot 98 then contacts the bottom of the trough with between I and lb. force and the bottom wings 93 and 94 travel with their bottom edges spaced away from the bottom of the trough floor by about 1 inch and with the lateral edges of wings 91, 92, 93 and 94 each about 1 to 2 inches from the sidewalls. The plow shape of the blades 91 and 92 hold the assembly 90 down in the mass of feed in the trough 16A, and the blade foot 95 is sufiiciently wide to avoid any harmful pressure thereof on the bottom of the trough as the auxiliary frame adjustment as sembly, through the auxiliary assembly 13, supports the blade 90 and aerator assembly so as to avoid any harmful contact of the blades 91 and 92 and foot 98 with the bottom of the trough.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B the aerator assembly 15 may be moved (as well as the assembly 14) up and down relative to the trailer assembly 12 because the frame assembly 13 is pivotally supported about the journals 37, 72, 73, 38, 75 and 76 while the frame assembly 14 is pivoted around the journals 39A and 39B and has hangers 81 and 82.

The combination of assemblies 12, 13, 17, 18 and 14 operates in cooperation with the combination of assemblies 12, 13, 17 and 15 in that, positioned by assemblies 12, 13 and 17, assembly 15 operates to maintain the mass of feed in the trough as 16A in a loose condition and prevents it from caking and becoming mouldy whereby the brush assembly 14 may substantially completely discharge the residue of the feed mass in the trough, supplemented and positioned by assemblies I2, 13, 17 and 18.

A modification of blade assembly 59 is shown in FIG. 98 as 59B; this assembly is substantially the same as assembly 59 except for use of curved arms 93B and 9413 instead of straight arms 93 and 94, the arms 93B and 94B are curved to fit the interior bottom surface 618 of the channel of trough 16B.

Assembly 59B provides for movement of the wings or bars 93B and 94B thereof along the length of the round-bottomed trough 168 with the bottom of bars 93B and 94B spaced slightly, but definitely, about 1 inch from the surface of the trough. The outer ends of the wings are at about 1 inch from the sidewalls of the trough and clearly do not touch such walls and extend for a total arc of 45. The upper wings 95B and 96B extend to within 2 inches, and usually and preferably about 1 inch, of the interior walls of the trough, but do not touch such walls during the travel of the blade assembly along the length of the trough; the foot 988 (same as 98) contacts the bottom of the trough with between I and 10 lb. force, the bottom wings 93B and 94B travel with their bottom edges spaced away from the trough floor by about 1 inch and with the lateral edges of wings 95B and 968 each about 1 to 2 inches from the sidewalls. The plow shape of the blades 91B and 92B (same as 91 and 92) hold the assembly 598 down in the mass of feed in the trough 16B and the blade foot, 983, is sufficiently wide to avoid any harmful pressure thereof on the bottom of the trough as the auxiliary frame adjustment assembly, through the auxiliary assembly 13, supports the blade 59B and remainder of the aerator assembly 15 so as to avoid any harmful contact of the blades 91B and 92B and foot 9813 with the bottom of the trough 168.

In the position of parts of apparatus 11 for operation of the brush assembly 14 through assembly 18, the aerator assembly 15 is pivoted about pivot bar 54 and held in a horizontally extending position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 with the assembly 59 held to the cables 36A and 36B of frame 13 in a firm yet readily releasable manner by hook and chain 113. Then, in the operative position of parts of assembly 14, the brush 40 is located in the channel of the trough as 16A, 16B or 16C to be treated thereby and move therealong while supported on assemblies 14, 13, and 12. Notwithstanding possible movement of the frame assemblies 23, 13 and 14 relative to each other, the position of the brush 40 in the trough 61 is supported at its optimum height relative thereto by adjustment of height of beam 34 by frame adjustment assembly 30, the brush 40 is translated along the length of the trough without damage to that trough as below described.

While the assemblies 13 and 12 are movable relative to height in respect to each other as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B and as above described in relation to the auxiliary frame adjusting assembly 30, the orientation of the axis (through axle 153) of the brush 40 relative to the axis of the frame 21 is readily controlled by the operator, as 19, so that both sides as well as the bottom of troughs as 16A and 16B are cleaned by apparatus 11 when the channel in such trough is generally rectangular in shape as seen in transverse cross section as well as when it is generally rounded or circular in transverse cross section.

The apparatus 11 is very effective in treating a trough as 16A of rectangular section because the brush position control unit components cooperate with the power train assembly 18 to particularly effectively treat the walls of troughs of rectangular cross section. On the clockwise rotation of the brush 40 (as seen from rear, i.e., as shown in FIG. 1) the frictional engagement of the brush with the trough bottom, as at zone 181, at front of brush 40 moves the brush laterally, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7C and so applies a brushing action against the interior surface of outer trough wall 63 as at zone 183 (shown in FIGS. 7C and 2). The area and action at zone 181 are controlled by the positioning of the axle 153 of the brush 40 by the front lateral brush control unit 49. The unit 49 raises the front of the brush 40 and so limits the amount of frictional force developed by the brush against the trough bottom, at zone 181, as well as directly controlling the amount of distance between the interior surface of the lateral wall and the front portion of the axle 153 of the brush 40.

The rear portion of the brush 40 is moved towards the inner wall, as 62, of the trough by the rear llateral control unit 48. The wheel 167 of unit 48 urges the axle 153 of the brush 40 towards the inner wall 62 of the trough 61, while the wheel 159 of the rear vertical control unit 47 supports the rear portion of the axle 153 of the brush 40 at a sufficiently high level that the area 180 of contact of brush 40 with the bottom surface, 61, of the trough 16A is sufficiently limited to not interfere with the shifting of the rear of the brush to contact the inner (left as in FIG. 1) wall 62 of the trough over a relatively large area, as 182, shown in FIG. 1. In such circumstances the direction of travel of the assembly 12, which is the same as the length or longitudinal axis of shaft may be at a slight angle to the direction of travel of the tractor 17 while the direction of travel of the tractor 17 is parallel to the length of the trough; however, the slight raising of the rear axle 153 slightly compensates for the divergence between direction of travel of assembly 12 and the direction of axis of shaft 125, i.e., the as sembly 12 is skidded in order to achieve this effect of the brush 40 cleansing both sides of the trough 16A, as in FIG. 7 B. With the journals 75 and 76 shifted to the left on plate 74 and with journals 72 and 73 shifted to the right on plate 71, the frame 13 is arrayed with the length of members 33 and 34 and shafts and at an angle to the vertical plane passing through shaft 125 to compensate for small amounts of divergence in direction of axle 153 and the length or axis of the trough 16A. The center longitudinal axis of axle 153 is the central longitudinal axes of brush 40 and the terms axle 153 and axis of brush 40 are frequently used herein interchangably.

To avoid this skidding action, illustrated in FIG. 713, it is within the scope of the invention also that the arm 32 be adjustable, whereby arms 31 and 32 be, as shown in FIG. 7C, not of equal length to help put and keep the axis of the brush 40 at an angle to the line of the shaft 125 for trough of rectangular section as 16A as well as for troughs; wherein the channel is curved but not truly circular, as below described for the action of apparatus 11 in cleaning out residue from a trough as 168.

This arrangement, as well as that of FIG. 7B in turn provides that the effective cross section of the brush 40 is in elliptical form, as also is shown in FIG. 9A, rather than a circle. Accordingly, square troughs and troughs of different internal widths relative to height as well as rounded troughs are thus serviced by the apparatus 11. Once the desired width of channel in the trough is determined and, in as much as in any one feed lot the troughs are usually all of the same dimension, once an adjustment has been made on assemblies 47, 49 and 48 and, if 31 is adjustable, as to the relative length of the arms 31 and 32, the apparatus 11 provides an effective match to the interior surface of the trough. Thereupon the tractor 17 travels a path as 101 parallel to the axis 102 of the trough 16A (or 163) and the brush is translated along a path parallel to the trough axis 102, although the central longitudinal axis of the brush 40 is not parallel to the axis 102 (as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C).

Apparatus 11 is also very effective in treating a trough as 16B of curved section because the brush position control unit components cooperate with the power train assembly 18 to effectively treat the walls of troughs of curved cross section on counterclockwise rotation of the brush 40 as seen from the front thereof, i.e., as shown in FIG. 9A) the frictional engagement of the brush with the wall of the trough, as at zone 40A at front of brush 40 moves the brush laterally, as shown in FIG. 9A, and so applies a brushing action against the interior surface of the outer trough wall, as 638, as shown in FIG. 9A. The amount of distortion of brush 40 is controlled by the positioning of the axle 153 of the brush 40 by the front lateral brush control unit 49. The unit 49 raises the front of the brush 40 and so limits the amount of frictional force developed by the brush against the trough bottom, as well as directly controlling the amount of distance between the interior surface of the lateral wall and the front portion of the axle 153 of the brush 40.

The rear portion of the brush 40B is moved towards the center wall, as 62B of the trough by the rear lateral control unit 48. The wheel 167 of unit 48 urges the axis 153 of the brush 40 toward the inner portion of the wall of the trough 16B, while the wheel 159 of the rear vertical control unit 47 supports the rear portion of the axle 153 of the brush 40 at a sufficiently high level that the area of contact of brush 40 with the bottom surface of the trough 16B is sufficiently limited to not interfere with the shifting of the rear of the brush to contact the inner (right as in FIG. 9A) wall of the trough over a relatively large area. In such circumstances the direction of travel of the assembly 12, which is the same as the length or longitudinal axis of shaft 125, may be at a slight angle to the direction of travel of the tractor 17 and the direction of travel of the tractor 17 is parallel to the length of the trough; the slight raising of the rear of axle 153 slightly compensates for this divergence between direction of travel of assembly 12 and the direction of axis of shaft 125, as the assembly 12 is skidded in order to achieve this effect of the brush 40 cleansing both sides of a rounded trough 168, as in FIG. 9A; also, with the bearings 75 and 76 shifted to the left on plate 74 and with bearings 72 and 73 shifted to the right on plate 71, the frame 13 is arrayed with the length of members 33 and 34 and shafts 135 and 145 at an angle to the vertical plane passing through shaft 125 for some small compensation for small amounts of divergence in direction of axle 153 and length of trough 16B; thus variations from true circular shape do not detract from the cleansing action of the brush 40 in cleansing residue of feed from a curved trough as 168.

The operation of apparatus 11 thus provides, as shown in FIGS. 78, 7C, 8 and 9A that the operator 19 of the tractor 17 may draw on the drawbar 28 so that the tractor passes along a path which is parallel to the centerline of the trough 16A or 168 and while the front end of the brush 40 will reach and brush the left or outer wall of the trough as shown in FIG. 1 the brush rear end wall similarly be brought effectively against the inner trough wall, hence the brush 40 need not have an outline that fits exactly into the channel of the trough but develops, with the remainder of apparatus 11, an effective oval shape with flattened portions if needed.

Apparatus 11 is also very effective in treating a trough as 16C of circularly rounded section of the same diameter or curvature as the diameter of the brush 40C. In this operation the brush position control unit components cooperate with the power train assembly 18 to effectively treat all portions of the walls of troughs of such circularly rounded cross section. On counterclockwise rotation of the brush 40C, as seen from the front thereof, i.e., as shown in FIG. 9A, the frictional engagement of the brush with the wall of the trough, as at front of brush 40C tends to move the brush laterally and so apply a brushing action and frictional force against the interior surface of the outer trough wall. The amount of displacement of brush 40C is again controlled by the positioning of the axle 153 of the brush 40C by the front lateral brush control unit 49 which is adjustable as to position as well as to size.

The unit 49 limits the amount of frictional force developed by the brush against the trough surface, as well as directly controlling the amount of distance between the interior surface of the lateral wall and the front portion of the axle 153 of the brush 40C and keeps the front portion of brush 40C in the center of the circularly curved trough 16C.

The rear portion of the brush 40C is urged towards the center wall of the trough by the rear lateral control unit 48. The wheel 167 of the unit 48 locates the axle 153 of the brush 40C sufficiently toward the inner portion of the wall of the trough 16C to overcome the frictional force of the brush and maintain axle 153 in the center of trough 16C. The wheel 159 of the rear vertical control unit 47 supports the rear portion of the axle 153 of the brush 40C at a sufficiently high level that the area of contact of brush 40C with the bottom surface of the trough 16C is sufficiently limited to not interfere with the location of the rear of the brush to uniformly contact the inner wall or channel wall of the trough 16C. In such circumstances the direction of travel of the assembly 12, which is the same as the length or longitudinal axis of shaft and the direction of travel of the tractor 17 are both parallel to the length of the trough, as shown in FIG. 7A, and the assembly 12 is not skidded nor assembly 14 skewed in order to achieve the effect of the brush 40C cleansing all portions of the interior of the rounded trough 16C and the action of the apparatus 11 is effective in cleansing residue of feed from a circularly rounded trough as 16C.

As the frame assembly 13 is pivotally supported and attached to vertical support unit 23 and assembly 13 comprises laterally extending rigid members 31 and 32 and longitudinally extending rigid members 33 and 34 firmly joined at their ends to form a hollow frame and that hollow frame is twistable along an axis such as the center of shaft parallel to the length of that hollow frame which passes through the attachment of journals 37 and 38 to the members 31 and 32 of that hollow frame the auxiliary frame 13 can twist as shown in FIG. 8 when the plane of travel 103 of the tractor 17 and trailer base frame 21 on road 104 may be different from the plane 105 in which the trough bottom as 61 lies. While the angle 106 of such difference in FIG. 8 is shown exaggerated, the fact is that there are usually irregularities in the road, as 104, over which the apparatus 11 would travel adjacent troughs as 16A so uphill and downhill motion of the assembly 12 relative to the trough as 16A or 168 is compensated for by the twistability of the frame assembly 13.

As is shown in FIGS. 1-6, the length of the road 104 and the length of troughs as 16A, 16B and 16C usually extend in a substantially horizontal plane, with only a minor tilt for drainage.

The bristle portion 152 of the brush as 40, of apparatus 11 is harder than grain and softer than concrete and is sufficiently flexible that, in the case of a rectangular flat-bottomed trough, as 16A, a flat zone of bristle surface rather than a curved cylindrical surface (such as is shown for zone 182 at FIG. 1) extends longitudinally and transversely of the drum length from the front-flattened line of contact 181 at the front end of the brush and trough surface at one side, the right-hand side as seen in FIG. 1 (left side as seen in FIG. 2), of the trough towards the flattened line of contact of brush at the rear 7 end of the brush and trough surface at the other side, the left side as seen in FIG. 1 (right side as seen in FIG. 2), of the brush and thereby forms a swath or zone of contact of bristles conforming to the shape of the bottom of the trough rather than, in that zone, being the cylindrically curved outer shape of the remainder of the broom 40. This flattened zone of contact extends transversely across the major portion of the trough channel even in the case of a flat-bottomed trough, and more in a concavely curved trough; the formation of a swath or zone of contact of bristles extending transversely to the length of the trough and conforming to the shape of the bottom of a trough whose bottom is curved is the same as above described for a flat-bottomed trough. The cylindrical brush as 40 maintained and transported in position on the trough by assembly 14 and the remainder of apparatus 11, thereby effectively presents oval and/or straight-edged outline and scrubbing action on the discharges residue from straightwalled (as 16A) and noncircularly curved (as 1613) as well as circularly rounded trough channels (as 16C).

TABLE 1 Overall Dimensions:

Width of base 21 (21A to 218) 60" Length of Base 21 (21C to 21D) 72" Height of towers 26 and 27 34" Centerline of axle 135 to centerline of axle 145 6" Length of members 41 and 42 (center of hanger 82 to center of axle 153) 36" Brush 40 Diameter of broom drum 151 8" Overall diameter of brush bristles (for 24" bunk) 24" (for 22"bunk) 22" Length of bristle portion of brush (for 24" bunk) 8" [for 22"bunk) 7" r.p.m. of brush, usual 150 r.p.rn. r.p.m. of power takeoff shaft 113 up to 540 r.p.m. Speed of tractor 17, approximately 3-6 m.p.h.

Sprocket Teeth Arrangements Chain Ref. No. In Ass. Sprocket In Drawings Figures Alternative 129 bottom 126 32 24 top 131 48 48 134 inner 132 24 24 outer 142 32 48 143 top 141 24 24 bottom 144 24 24 Assembly Overall height, centerline of sleeve 56 to bottom of foot 98 36" sleeve 56 length 5' 6" i.d. 2" Leg 57, steel stock, 2"XW' Blade assembly 59 (for 24-inch wide rectangular trough): Overall width across blades 91 and 92 measured transverse to trough Maximum transverse width across blades 91 and 92 in assembly 59 6" Length of bars 93 and 94, along length thereof 1 1" Assembly 46 Total length across wheels 164 and 167 24" (adjusted to be same as interior of channel 64) Bracket 161 0.11. (steel) 3" Adjustment slot in arm 157, length 4 Length of arm 157 36" Diameter of wheels 159, 164, 167, each 6" The mark indicates feet, the mark indicates inches.

1 claim:

1. Apparatus for cleaning a cattle feed trough comprising, in

operative combination:

a. a laterally and longitudinally extending trailer comprising a frame and wheeled supports operatively connected thereto for movement of said trailer longitudinally in a first direction,

b. a main support assembly on said trailer supported on said trailer and comprising a lateral portion that extends vertically above said trailer and laterally thereof,

0. brush support means pivotally supported on said lateral portion of said main support assembly and a longitudinally extending cylindrical brush therebelow with a longitudinally extending central axis supported on said brush support means for rotation about said longitudinally extending central axis, said longitudinally extending axis being generally parallel to said first direction, brush drive means on said brush and operatively connected thereto,

(1. a power transmission assembly operatively connected to said drive means on said brush,

e. guide means extending transversely to said brush axis for trough wall contact, and firmly attached to said brush support means.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 also comprising an aerator assembly supported on said lateral portion of said main support assembly, said aerator assembly comprising a vertically extending frame and, near to the bottom thereof and firmly attached thereto, transversely extending blade means, each of said aerator assembly and said brush being movable between a down, work contacting position, on an up position, with the brush being moved to an up position when the aerator as sembly is lowered into a work-contacting position.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said blade means attached to a plow means including downwardly and forwardly sloped surfaces extending to each side of and meeting at a downwardly and forwardly sloped vertical edge, said blade means and said plow means being symmetrical about said vertically extending frame.

d. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the trailer is attached to a tractor to travel in a first direction and the lateral portion of the main support assembly comprises adjustment means whereby the longitudinally extending central axis of the brush extends in a direction at an acute angle to said first direction while that brush travels in a direction parallel to said first direction.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said guide means comprises, at one end of said brush means a rigid vertically extending adjustable arm with a wheel rotatably attached to the bottom thereof.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein :said guide means comprises, at each end of said brush means laterally extending guide means comprising a rigid arm of adjustable length with a wheel rotatably attached to one end thereof, another portion of each said laterally extending guide means being firmly at tached to said brush support means.

7. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said main support comprises:

a. a first vertically extending rigid support on said trailer assembly and firmly attached thereto, and

b. a second laterally extending support assembly pivotally supported on and attached to said first support assembly said second assembly comprising laterally extending rigid members and longitudinally extending rigid members firmly joined at their ends to form a hollow frame, said hollow frame being twistable along an axis parallel to the length of that hollow frame and passing through the attachment of said first vertically extending support to said hollow frame, and

c. an adjustment assembly comprising tension and adjustment means connected in series between and attached to said trailer and said laterally extending support assembly. 

1. Apparatus for cleaning a cattle feed trough comprising, in operative combination: a. a laterally and longitudinally extending trailer comprising a frame and wheeled supports operatively connected thereto for movement of said trailer longitudinally in a first direction, b. a main support assembly on said trailer supported on said trailer and comprising a lateral portion that extends vertically above said trailer and laterally thereof, c. brush support means pivotally supported on said lateral portion of said main support assembly and a longitudinally extending cylindrical brush therebelow with a longitudinally extending central axis supported on said brush support means for rotation about said longitudinally extending central axis, said longitudinally extending axis being generally parallel to said first direction, brush drive means on said brush and operatively connected thereto, d. a power transmission assembly operatively connected to said drive means on said brush, e. guide means extending transversely to said brush axis for trough wall contact, and firmly attached to said brush support means.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 also comprising an aerator assembly supported on said lateral portion of said main support assembly, said aerator assembly comprising a vertically extending frame and, near to the bottom thereof and firmly attached thereto, transversely extending blade means, each of said aerator assembly and said brush being movable between a down, work contacting position, on an up position, with the brush being moved to an up position when the aerator assembly is lowered into a work-contacting position.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said blade means attached to a plow means including downwardly and forwardly sloped surfaces extending to each side of and meeting at a downwardly and forwardly sloped vertical edge, said blade means and said plow means being symmetrical about said vertically extending frame.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the trailer is attached to a tractor to travel in a first direction and the lateral portion of the main support assembly comprises adjustment means whereby the longitudinally extending central axis of the brush extends in a direction at an acute angle to said first direction while that brush travels in a direction parallel to said first direction.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said guide means comprises, at one end of said brush means a rigid vertically extending adjustable arm with a wheel rotatably attached to the bottom thereof.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said guide means comprises, at each end of said brush means laterally extending guide means comprising a rigid arm of adjustable length with a wheel rotatably attached to one end thereof, another portion of each said laterally extending guide means being firmly attached to said brush support means.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said main support comprises: a. a first vertically extending rigid support on said trailer assembly and firmly attached thereto, and b. a second laterally extending support assembly pivotally supported on and attached to said first support assembly said second assembly comprising laterally extending rigid members and longitudinally extending rigid members firmly joined at their ends to form a hollow frame, said hollow frame being twistable along an axis parallel to the length of that hollow frame and passing through the attachment of said first vertically extending support to said hollow frame, and c. an adjustment assembly comprising tension and adjustment means connected in series between and attached to said trailer and said laterally extending support assembly. 